Even after four days since paddy procurement began in Punjab, the government owned agencies are not coming forward to make a purchase at the grain markets.

A labourer drying paddy at a grain market in Moga on Tuesday.(HT Photo)

Even after four days since paddy procurement began in Punjab, the government owned agencies are not coming forward to make a purchase at the grain markets.

This is in stark contrast to government claims of having done all preparations for speedy procurement.

The procurement season officially was started on October 1 in Punjab.

The state government had announced that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and food supplies agencies Punjab will begin procurement at a fixed minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 1510 per quintal for grade-A and Rs 1470 per quintal for the common variety of paddy.

In Moga so far, merely 834 tonnes of the total 2,516 tonnes of paddy, has been procured by government agencies.

Farmers from distant areas are staying in the grain markets for the safety of their crop.

“I have brought 11 acres of produce and I have been waiting from last four days for procurement agencies to sell it,” said Gurjant Singh, a farmer from Ghalghalan village.

“Even though government had claimed that procurement will start from first day but so far nobody has come to purchase it,” he said. Most of the crop that has arrived is fulfilling parameters including moisture content which should be less than 17 %, said officials.

“The paddy procurement is slow due to strike of rice shellers but agencies are still purchasing crop,” said Jasbir Kaur, district mandi officer (DMO).

GRAIN MARKET FULL OF MOSQUITOES

The farmers staying overnight for security of their produce are putting their lives at risk as the area is full of mosquitoes.

Not only this, the farmers are not getting potable water in the grain markets showing indifference of the district mandi officials.

“After my friend told that there is no water in grain market, along with the produce I have brought water bottles, at least I can drink hygienic water,” said Kuldeep Singh, another farmer from Bhagelewala village.

He had brought paddy from 12 acres and has been waiting since three days to sell.